Photography Commons^™

Beauty Temples, Courtney Obrien

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

This photo story explores the profound intersection of physical touch, professional craft, and emotional sanctuary within the independent beauty spaces of Lincoln, Nebraska. By documenting the work of practicing hairstylists, a tattoo artist, and a nail technician, the project positions the modern studio not merely as a place of aesthetic enhancement, but as a "Beauty Temple".

At the heart of this narrative is the intimacy of the artist-client relationship. In an increasingly digital world, these practitioners remain among the few professionals whose work requires sustained, purposeful physical contact. Through close-up photography and environmental portraiture, this project captures the steady hands …

I Want You To Want Me, Marianne Koleng

be Still

This piece calls to the theme of "attention" through a mixed media piece incorporating collage, ink, and colored pencil. It embraces the nuances of both anatomy and popular music, rock-and-roll, to be specific. The title is taken from the popular song by Cheap Trick, of the same name in an effort to elude to the desire for human attention in a human form.

Even Flow, Marianne Koleng

be Still

This piece attempts to connect the "ebb and flow" of music and art with the sometimes strict interpretation of anatomy. It calls to attention what often seem as opposites - the cold nature of medicine and science with the seemingly warm and free nature of music and art. While many see them as opposites, this piece attempts to convey they are really two sides of the same coin.

Pick & Choose, Sana Lulu

be Still

To me, attention goes hand in hand with patience and is a core part of my creative process. When it comes to my art, I generally ride inconsistent waves of inspiration, meaning I often churn out pieces all in one session, finessing a piece until I am satisfied. In that span of time, all that matters to me is getting my piece as close to how I picture it in my mind as possible, giving it my full undivided attention. I tend to fixate on projects and have a hard time revisiting them once I decide to end the session. …

Su Drama Bernarda Alba Production Photos, Henry Killbourn, Alex Jainchill, Reyna Sanchez

Drama - All Scholarship

This project strengthens the Syracuse University Department of Drama’s ability to document its theatrical productions through high-quality digital photography. With support from the SOURCE grant, the department acquired updated photography equipment that enables students to capture clearer, more accurate images of performances. These photographs document acting, staging, costumes, sets, and lighting in a professional and archival manner.

Conjuring Elizabeth Fulhame: Using Ai To Depict The Invisible Woman From The Dawn Of Photography., Yvette Hamilton

Art Inquiries

Histories of the origins of photography are dominated by men, but the lesser-known contributions of women, such as the British chemist Elizabeth Fulhame, were fundamental to its success. Fulhame’s eighteenth-century chemical experiments directly contributed to the birth of photography, however, she is either totally obscured, or only briefly footnoted, in foundational texts on the history of photography. Her obscuration is heightened by the complete absence of any surviving images of her - she is, quite literally, invisible within a medium whose history privileges the visible.

This paper charts my practice-led research that used AI generative imaging to create speculative portraits …

A House With No Walls Where Persimmons Grow In The Garden: Photography As A Collaborative Feminist Practice And Using Archives To Reframe The Present, Jada Wheeler

University Honors Theses

A House With No Walls is an investigation of the idea of chosen family, as it exists apart from the influence of any institution. It alludes to the home as a place that exists within space shared with the people we choose as family and within our own free bodies. This project investigates the collaborative potential of photography, and uses it as a tool in creating a feminist representation of family. All the photographs were made with close friends, in an unplanned and spontaneous manner, to document intimate moments of our everyday lives.

Where Persimmons Grow In The Garden is …

Recollections Of A Tejana Life, Carolina Yáñez

Art Theses and Dissertations

This thesis encompasses the life of a young woman navigating life in Texas through various political and social barriers. My interdisciplinary practice analyzes the historical context of Mexicans in Texas from its Revolutionary period into current injustices. Through fiber, printmaking, and photography I create a visual diary to illustrate what the political has made personal. These works display the beauty of Tejano culture, but also the power struggles that threaten communities I care for, as well as my own existence that persists against far-right wing agendas.

Current politics and government leadership in Texas have inspired me to make artwork calling …

Frankenstein Colorized, Marianne Koleng

be Still

One of my favorite novel's growing up was Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. I see Frankenstein's desire to create a "Monster" as a way to grasp at the fundamental human drive for connection, and healing through connection. In this piece, I attempt to bring that inner yearning for fundamental connection to paper.

Beyond Myself - Healing Through Pain, Marianne Koleng

be Still

In this piece I reflect on the importance of setbacks, non-linear growth, injuries, and pain and their ability to provide self-reflection, a platform for growth, and an crucial reminder of the fragility of life. I have often been self-critical for not following a "traditional" path in life, and reflecting on my experiences allows me to show myself grace and hopefully may influence others to do so as well.

Volume 29 Issue 2

NEBO: A Literary Journal

This issue of Nebo: A Literary Journal, published in Fall 2015, presents a rich tapestry of poetry and fiction, reflecting on themes of identity, human experience, and artistic expression. The issue, archived as Volume 29, Issue 2, corresponds to the print edition labeled Volume 34, Issue 1. Due to necessary metadata adjustments in the digital archiving process, some volume and issue numbers in the online collection may not match those printed in the original journals.

Editor Ryan Smith, in his editorial preface, describes his experience as a fledgling academic and writer, …

Volume 5, Issue 2

NEBO: A Literary Journal

This issue of Nebo: A Literary Journal represents a dynamic collection of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, translations, and visual art, showcasing a diverse range of voices from emerging and established writers. Originally archived as Volume 5, Issue 2, this issue is actually Volume 9, covering Fall and Spring of the 1990-1991 academic year. As part of the ongoing archival process, some volume and issue numbers in the digital collection may not correspond with those printed in the original journals. Despite these variations, the commitment of Nebo to fostering literary excellence and supporting the creative arts remains unwavering. This …

The Paradox Of Value, David Enrique Guarnizo

Theses and Dissertations

The present thesis project examines how, in the United States, and especially in the state of Virginia, archetypes of "wealth," "value," and "identity" have been constructed in relation to land and territory. This analysis explores the tension between the inherent value of life on the land and the economic value that can be derived from it. This tension is exemplified by a theory known as the "paradox of value", also referred to as the "paradox of water and diamonds", which was developed by the renowned Scottish economist and philosopher, Adam Smith. This theoretical framework serves as a fundamental axis for …

Cardinal, Rachel Schmitt

A Midwestern Review: A Magazine of the Arts and Issues at DePauw University

Rachel Schmitt is a Senior Music Education major with an instrumental emphasis. Having always been intrigued by the world that surrounds us, Rachel took up photography as a hobby around age 10. At DePauw, she has honed in on her photography skills and continues to create projects to showcase her detailed-oriented lens.

Permanence Collection, Justine Vandenberg

A Midwestern Review: A Magazine of the Arts and Issues at DePauw University

Justine Vandenberg is an Environmental Fellow student at DePauw University majoring in Sustainability Science and Environmental Studies. She is also a writer, poet, and photographer who is passionate about using artistic forms to advocate for the health of ecosystems and human communities. She finds beauty in hiking, gardening, and mountain life.

Lost Track Of Time, Kisa Tamai

A Midwestern Review: A Magazine of the Arts and Issues at DePauw University

Kisa Tamai is a junior from Honolulu, Hawai'i, majoring in Communication and Global Health. She occasionally shoots 35mm film in memory of her grandfather. She enjoys hiking and rock climbing.

Kindling, Kandafula Sikana

A Midwestern Review: A Magazine of the Arts and Issues at DePauw University

Kay Sikana is an interdisciplinary artist and Senior Studio Art Major at DePauw. They enjoy storytelling and integrating oral histories in their work.

Red Bike In Snow, Emily Loera

A Midwestern Review: A Magazine of the Arts and Issues at DePauw University

Emily Loera is a Junior double majoring in Design Studies and Asian Studies. She is on the Women’s Track and Field team and involved in many other organizations on DePauw's campus. She loves to share her art with others, read, and hang out with her friends.

Sidewalk Ensnared, Annika Christiansen

A Midwestern Review: A Magazine of the Arts and Issues at DePauw University

Annika Christiansen is a Sophomore photojournalist and Media Fellow at DePauw University. She has been pursuing photography personally and professionally for the past six years, and her art is inspired by the hidden beauty in mundane scenes. She loves fiction writing, jazz music, and cinematography.

Mom's Third Eye, Dylan Copeland

A Midwestern Review: A Magazine of the Arts and Issues at DePauw University

Dylan Copeland is a Junior Studio Art major at DePauw University. He loves exploring with photography to create unique compositions. He loves to pole vault, skateboard, and listen to music in his free time.

Worn, Lindsay Hontz

A Midwestern Review: A Magazine of the Arts and Issues at DePauw University

Lindsay Hontz is a Junior English Writing Major and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Minor at DePauw University. She enjoys photography and typically shoots film. She loves to cook and bake in her free time.

Surrealist Photography: Past, Present, And Future, Carmen Kennedy

Honors Projects

Surrealist Photography: Past, Present, and Future is a research project diving into surrealist photographers, contemporary photographers, and AI. Starting the paper, I give historical context on the movement including the founder Andre Breton, surrealist painters that either had a significant contribution or interesting way to create, themes explored, and techniques used. The surrealist photographers I researched are Man Ray, Angus McBean, and Claude Cahun. Then, I analyze the works of Erik Johansson, Pat Brassington, and Aida Muluneh and how their work is inspired by or has the vibe of surrealist photographs from the movement. Lastly, I start to explore the …

Lost In The (Re)Process: Challenging Constructions Of Downtown Louisville Through The Urban Renewal Commission Photograph Collection., Cassidy Meurer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis chronicles the historical significance of the Urban Renewal Commission photograph collection, traces the history of racial capitalism in Louisville through research at Metro Louisville Archives & Records Center, and argues for alternative ways of organizing, digitizing, and presenting these archival materials in the University of Louisville’s Archives & Special Collections. I describe my methodology for breaking the photographic materials from their original order, going against typical archival processing methodologies, with the aim that the collection will more accurately represent the city’s strategic displacement of Black Louisvillians and civic prioritization of capital efficiency over community. This work emphasizes the …

Skin To Skin: A Mixed-Media Exploration Of The Inheritance Of Identity, Angeline Morgan

Honors Theses

Skin to Skin is a mixed-media project that investigates the inheritance of identity through fine art and anthropological approaches. With a focus on womanhood, maganda (beauty), and Filipino-American culture, Skin to Skin reflects my deconstruction of cultural beauty practices. Growing up, proximity to lightness and darkness was a heavily emphasized metric. I witnessed family members experiment with light, water, and skin-lightening products on their skin. Now, I use alternative process photography to mirror their aesthetic experimentation.

To visually connect darkroom and beauty rituals, I created a series of unique, experimental prints where I treat paper surfaces as skin. I produced …

Generations, Jayla Watkins

Student Projects

Understanding your family can be the starting point of understanding your personal identity. Coming of age, you begin to view your family members as individuals as opposed to their titles of “Mother” or “Grandmother” names that once seemed to elude that she possessed some sort of supernatural power. As Jayla Watkins looks across 3 generations of her family, she sees different versions of the same person affected by life experiences, environments, and choices. Some oddly similar and some worlds apart. Understanding the generations of woman before her helps inform the woman she is becoming.

With influences such as Deana Lawson …

Ecological Functions Of The Document In Art And Design: Diplomatic Documents In Artistic Inquiries, Yann Aucompte

Proceedings from the Document Academy

A certain ecologist art form has been on the rise for the past twenty years. Those artworks include documents. The analysis will take two examples : Tale as Tool, and Chroniques de l’accueil. The use of documents doesn't deal with representation, as it used to be in art, but with inquiries. The ecological art tries to trigger testimonies and transformations of the common representation of nature. They don’t use documents as a trace but for their diplomatic capabilities. The document doesn’t record events or facts but it changes the situation. The ecological artists come with this paradoxical art stance : …

Sporarts: The Artistic Representation Of Athleticism, Joe Kraus

Capstone Showcase

This paper aims to describe the artistic value of sports photography. This paper includes academic theories and themes like the halo effect, theories of seeing (scopophilia, Laura Mulvey, male gaze, sporting gaze, gaze theory), and medium theory. Creative themes include architecture, gender in sports (Title IX), and film, digital, and experimental photography. Sports discussed include men's and women's ice hockey, baseball, american football, men's basketball, and men's soccer.

Retrospective Exhibition Evansdale Section, Sally Brown, Colleen Moretz, Frankie Tack, Jason Lee, Ruth Yang

Art in the Libraries Retrospective: 2015-2024

This section of the WVU Art in the Libraries Retrospective (2015-2024) includes a summary of the exhibitions that have taken place at the WVU Evansdale Library.

Retrospective: Health Sciences Section, Sally Brown, Beth Mccormick, Anne Mcfarland, Renee Nicholson, Sheila Price, Manuel Vallejo, Misbah Muzaffer, Dana Gray, Jamie Shinn, Jennifer Momen

Art in the Libraries Retrospective: 2015-2024

This section of the WVU Art in the Libraries Retrospective (2015-2024) exhibit includes a summary of exhibitions and projects that have been based at the WVU Health Sciences Library.

Retrospective Exhibition Additional Initiatives Section, Sally Brown, Lemley Mullett, Michael Sherwin

Art in the Libraries Retrospective: 2015-2024

The section of the WVU Art in the Libraries Retrospective (2015-2024) includes a summary of the program's special initiatives.